Löwenbräu Original
Löwenbräu AG

Löwenbräu OriginalLöwenbräu Original
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From:
Löwenbräu AG
 
Germany
Style:
Helles
Ranked #320
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
75
Ranked #27,484
Avg:
3.29 | pDev: 17.02%
Reviews:
429
Ratings:
932
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 15, 2024
Added:
Jan 28, 2001
Wants:
  59
Gots:
  150
Brewed since 1383, Lowenbrau is still produced in Munich and is brewed according to the German Reinheitsgebot (purity law) that dates back to 1516. It's a refreshing yet characteristic beer, slightly dry, spicy, with a trace of malt and delicately bitter.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Averageperson
Reviewed by Averageperson from Canada (ON)

2.99/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
seeing the beer with a lower rating kinda surprised me. works good as a benchmark not a bad beer and for the price point it tops many other Anheuser-Busch products. Nice aroma but I've moved on to other beers.
Feb 15, 2024
Photo of Broski1989
Reviewed by Broski1989 from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Almost impossible to find Lowenbrau on USA shelves anymore due to distribution issues. Across the northern border in Canada it is still regularly available.

Lowenbrau once a major competitor to Heineken in the 70’s, 80’s and very early 90’s dropped off shelves in the 90’s. It is a good clean crisp beer that is budget enough friendly to buy and enjoy. It is on par with Spaten for its taste.
Jan 13, 2024
Photo of BrochJam
Reviewed by BrochJam from Canada (ON)

3.93/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
When I started drinking, this is the first beer I drank with any regularity (I liked the colour of the can), and while not the cream of the crop, it's acted as an excellent benchmark for when I explore other beers. I distinctly remember thinking it tasted like those yucky stringy bits you sometimes get on bananas. It's solid, it's decent, but I think I'm going to phase it out of my rotation.
Nov 10, 2023
Photo of jonphisher
Reviewed by jonphisher from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours brilliantly clear gold with a beautiful sustaining white head; great initial lacing which slowly gets weaker but a thick film of white persists.

Nose is unfortunately quite skunky, but some light hops as well; and a light fragrant white bread note is also present.

Taste is less skunky which is nice; really awesome crackers white bread vibes, a very light touch of sweetness; touch of noble hops on finish.

Mouthfeel is very nice, light body, incredibly d dry and clean, low but noticeable touch of bitter; the carbonation is so vibrant and creamy at once; probably my favorite aspect of this beer.

Nice to try this beer, thanks to pops for bringing it home; hopefully one day a can or brown bottle finds its way to me.
Oct 29, 2023
Photo of Antibeerdouche
Reviewed by Antibeerdouche from Canada (ON)

2.76/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Tastes like a cheap tall can. It's kind of like eating old El paso tacos. They work, but they are pretty crappy tacos. That being said because of price I drink them semi regularly. Also people who talk about the notes and all that crap are annoying.
Sep 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.07 by wize from Norway

Aug 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.44 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jun 27, 2023
Photo of teerough
Reviewed by teerough from Canada (ON)

3.82/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Contract ( "supervised") Brew 473ml Can 5.2% ABV Labatt's

Had a chance to drink original intro of Loewenbraeu to Canada back in last 70's LCBO sold both the original and a dark version) Leaned more to the Dunkel and have enjoyed when Phillip Morris introduced "let it be Lowenbrau " campaign at a USGP.
Drank the original import. Tried in 2021 the contract brew and it was skunky, a previous review is correct and exact. Decided a revist on because of pricing at Brewers Retail. Glad I gave it a redo.
A touch lighter in colour than a fresn canadian Loonie. Medium carbonation, Mild aroma, a Bavarian taste with no bite.
Nothing spectacular but will make my list of continued purchases.
First review so apologies if no help. Prosit.
Jun 11, 2023
Photo of DotCat007
Reviewed by DotCat007 from Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +36.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The reviews giving this beer a very low score, or calling it "skunky" and deducting points because of that absolutely DO NOT KNOW what they are talking about. ALL beers will turn "skunky" if they are old or have not been stored properly. "Fresh" Lowenbrau is one of the finest beers on the planet - just make just you are buying the freshest you can find. Lived in Germany for 2 years and this was by far my favorite beer there. Lived off-base and had a "beer boy" with a little red wagon who would collect my empties, get money from me and bring be back a full case of new beer...was GREAT!!
Feb 24, 2023
Photo of ramseye4
Reviewed by ramseye4 from Virginia

3.04/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Found some notes from 2010 when I had this for the first time. Thin appearance with decent head, simple aroma of grain and butter, the taste echoing this. Mouthfeel pops and puts a shine on the taste.

This was one of my early go to beers, back when it was distributed in the US. The novelty of drinking something German helped me delve into the craft scene so I'm thankful for it, would love to have some again even if on the whole its a sort of mediocre beer.
Feb 03, 2023
Photo of wannabekraut
Reviewed by wannabekraut

3.34/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A normal looking and tasting helles. Doesn't have the character of an Augustiner or a Tegernseer, but still a helles you can drink and be satisfied with.
Jan 27, 2023
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I’ve had this in the past but it’s likely one of those beers I’ve waited to review until I’m in the country of its source. Similar to my approach to Belgian beers because they’re better this side of the pond. The avg score for this is pretty low. It’s a solid example of the style and drinks well. Could have several in a sitting. I’ll chalk it up to the lower quality beer that makes it to the US.
Jan 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.4 by MrJones07 from Spain

Nov 21, 2022
Photo of VandilioffReborn
Reviewed by VandilioffReborn from Canada (ON)

3.99/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Middle of November, 2022

Its a cool early winters night and time for a beer with some potato chips near an electric heater. Lowenbrau Original Pilsner brewed under contract for Canadian distrubtion by Labatt's.
Poured into a lager pint glass from a cold tall boy can. Aggressive coyote ugly bar style pour.
An aureate bronze colour - the colour of a Canadian loonie coin. Lowenbrau unloads with large bubble carbonation with a healthy sticky white head. A nice looking helles, pilsner.
Imight have this poured a little too cold to bring out all the notes - however I know for certain from the past it has no notes of corn at all. Fresh sourdough and a linen fresh bouquet of german hops. Light lemon fruit esters from the fermentation.
Graham cracker and malted 2 row up front lager taste with a good hop crunch on the follow through. Very dry, but pleasent astringent German hops.
Its a very flavourful and refreshing beer. It tastes a little big at 5.2% but no alcohol warming. The astringent finish from the hops dries out your mouth and commands you take another gulp. A lager ferris wheel that only stops when the glass is empty.
Its a very well put together beer. It often goes on sale for $2.00 a pint at the groccery store. Overall a very pleasent true to style beer that stands well on its own; or it can be paired well with cheese and potatos.
Certainly reccomended.
Nov 18, 2022
Photo of MattDecker
Rated by MattDecker from Texas

3.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Just a beer. A well done 'just a beer', but still just a beer.
Oct 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.56 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Aug 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.04 by DarrellK from Florida

Aug 20, 2022
Photo of Thunderduck22
Rated by Thunderduck22 from Ireland

3/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Perfect draft keg. Enjoyed it. Noting spectacular just a nice lager
Aug 19, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

2.53/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
February 2002: A weaker version (4,75%) was sold in Norway. I don't like this stuff. Bitter and unpleasant aftertaste. Also sampled on tap in Germany, not my favourite.
Jul 05, 2022
Photo of Bjorska
Rated by Bjorska

4.5/5  rDev +36.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
One of my favourites. A bit lighter than a standard German pilsner.
Jul 05, 2022
Löwenbräu Original from Löwenbräu AG
Beer rating: 75 out of 100 with 932 ratings